US private equity group Blackstone, Guy Hands and Iranian property entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz, are the shortlisted candidates to buy the UK&acute;s biggest cinema chain, Odeon, The Times reported without citing sources.

Terra Firma Capital Partners, the private equity company formed by Hands, and Tchenguiz, is believed to be in competition with Blackstone, the US buyout firm, to take control of the cinema company, which was formally put up for sale in June.

Final bids for Odeon are due on Friday, with the sale price expected to value the chain at more than 380 mln stg.